Our History

Our History

The Jeffersonville United Methodist Church was originally a member of the Methodist Protestant Denomination. The Methodist Protestants broke away from the main group of Methodists (Methodist Episcopal Church) in 1828 because they had become dissatisfied with the increasingly exclusive power of clergy, particularly bishops, and the exclusion of laymen from the councils of the Church, including the Annual (regional) and General (national) Conferences. The Methodist Episcopal Church eventually became more democratic in its church governance; hence, most of the Methodist Protestant Churches reunited with the main group in 1939, which is now The United Methodist Church.

The congregation traces its beginning to 1842 when a Sunday school was conducted in the home of Nathaniel McCandless. Preaching services and a Sunday school were held in the schoolhouse section of the McCandless home because a church building did not exist in Jeffersonville; in fact, none of the denominations were financially strong enough to support a typical church building. A decision was made that a church should be built, and it should be available for any denomination strong enough to effect a regular congregation. The old frame Union Church was built on Main Street and dedicated in 1849. Most of the citizens in Jeffersonville contributed to its construction. Methodist Protestant ministers from the Spring Grove neighborhood began holding services in the Union Church.

In 1874, the First Methodist Protestant Church building was erected on the site of the present building (13 East High Street) with P.F. Johnson as pastor. In 1901, that building was torn down and the present building was erected. Much of the construction expenses were met by a donation from Mr. James Fent, whose father, William Fent, had been one of the many citizens who had assisted in the erection of the Union Church. In 1966 an addition was dedicated that provided more classrooms and office space.